The generic description of the eHealth Services Hub in part 3 of the Architecture and Design Blueprint includes a superset of all different types of services that may be needed at various points and levels in a distributed healthcare network. As described in the section "Deployment Options" (p.105), depending on the topology of the system, various flavours of the generic eHealth Hub may be used at different levels, with the appropriate subset of all the services listed.
The closest match for HCE is the "Integration Hub" (p.107) – which supports the connectivity and integration of various systems. The services provided by HCE – and their mapping to the eHealth Hub taxonomy of services – include:
- Integration, Communication, Privacy and Security – HCE Message Management Services (routing, logging and monitoring of messages) and Adapters
- Service Publication and Location – HCE Registries
- System Management – HCE Administration Services
See below a newer version of the CHF architecture diagram, with HCE services mapped onto corresponsing areas.
It is possible to implement a "Central Hub" based on HCE, by supplementing it with facilities for permanent storage of information like Patient Information, Patient and Practitioner Registries – but these would remain external to HCE, connected by adapters like any other system. The main focus of HCE remains on connecting effectively various entities (e.g. individual systems within a hospital, or independent healthcare providers in a larger context), in a peer-to-peer or hierarchical topology. HCE plays the role of a helpful intermediary – not the end point.
That being said, our Microsoft colleagues in Russia have translated all CHF and HCE content, and extended the HCE reference implementation to include Electronic Patient Record – obviously tailored to local requirements and standards. We are yet to explore the feasibility of generalising and publishing this for wider reuse.
"The Microsoft Health Connection Engine" whitepaper (http://download.microsoft.com/download/6/0/6/60695d59-d9e6-4aa7-9afb-4974bec2ceab/Introduction%20to%20HCE.xps) provides a good introduction and overview of the HCE architecture, including description of the HCE services, their role and interactions.
Regards,
Ilia Fortunov
Industry Technology Strategist - EMEA
Microsoft Worldwide Health
Ilia Fortunov
Industry Technology Strategist -
Microsoft Worldwide Health